TELEGRAPH OF THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO HAS INTERESTING STORIES OF EARLY WELLAND

[Taken from Welland Telegraph October 18, 1912]

{Compiled by “S”}

An old copy of The Telegraph, published thirty-five years ago, was found in a tin box in the  walls of the old Episcopal Church a few days ago by workmen who were making alterations.

The Telegraph thirty-five years ago, it is interesting to note, published four pages a week. Last week, the week of the anniversary, the issue was twenty pages. The size of the paper was increased five times, labor costs have probably doubled, yet the price remains the same, one dollar per year.

The paper, composed of four pages, is a typical representation of the newspaper style of that period.
The biggest heading on the first page is what is known in newspaper offices as nonpareil, one of the smallest types.

Interesting stories of the Welland era of 1877 are found in the pages, however, many of these are now dead. Some of those who are still connected with the business life of today were then men in their prime and their names are to be found within the pages of the paper.

The Welland of 1877 was a far different place than the Welland of today and one needs but a glance to be assured of this.

The most exciting thing which the editors of this early paper, then just a weekly, found for their readers was a county fair, half-buried in mud, and a council meeting.

The publishers were Colcock & Durnan, and the office of publication was in the Griffith block, East Main Street. Politics in the year 1877 demanded a great deal of space and editorial matter occupied three columns, one column being placed on the first page. Free trade was under discussion at the time, Canada , having a one-sided agreement with the United States.

A three-line item on the first page tells the readers of the paper that a survey for the projected new Niagara, St Catharines Railway was to be started at once.

The legal advertisements on the first page contain the names of LD. Raymond, A, Williams and Miller, Miller & Cox. The latter had offices in St Catharines.

The doctors at that time did not possess such an antipathy to advertising as they now have. Four medical men used  very good advts They were: Dr. A.B. Cook (now of Toronto), Dr J.W. Schooley, Dr D.T. Scholfield and Dr J.B. Kennedy.

The Queen’s hotel contains an announcement that it would be continued as before, baring liquors. The Frazer House, what is now known as the Arlington, was the only other hotel that used the columns of publicity.

James McGlashan, manager of the Imperial Bank, advertised his branch of the bank in a two-inch space. The capital at that time was $1,000,000. with a reserve fund of $25,000.

J.W. Dawdy, father of William and Har-ey Dawdy, well known Wellanders of today, had a small space on the first page, telling that his new grocery was the best place to but at rock bottom prices. H.D. Lock was a clothing merchant at the time. Charles Stewart was a fashionable boot and shoe maker of the town. C.J. Page advertised for tenders for rooms in the Oddfellows’ new block.

J.H. Burgar, the present magistrate and treasurer, was then proprietor of Medical Hall.

Russia and Turkey were at war.
In an editorial article The Telegraph critizes the expenditure of $59,080 by the government on the Kaministiquia hotel, a shack composed of nothing more than slabs and old lumber, worth not more than  $200 at the most.

Bertie and Willoughby fall fairs had been held and brief reports were published. Bertie fair was then held at Ridgeway.

The county fair was just being held as the paper went to press. A herd of cattle, shown at the exhibition, by J.K. Crawford, were ambiguously described in the report as being “a perfect sight”.

Members present at the council meeting held a week before publication were Messrs. Sidney, Page and Lamonte. The heading of the report is as follows: “The fathers succumb to the wishes of the people. They appoint a fire warden. Promises to do better in future. T.W. Hooker won’t face the music. Baits for January election. Unparliamentary proceedings.” It may be seen from this that the council of Welland of 1877 was a very strenuous one.

Marcus Vanderburg, an items states had just been awarded the contract for a new brick house for Charles Loesch.

Five “boarders” at Castle Coulson were announced. Stamford’s fair was highly praised by the scribe who reported it.

A prisoner escaped from Welland jail and was re-captured by Gaoler Baxter. “He was to serve six months but probably will now get more.” is the prophesy of the paper.

Among the local news items there is one announcing the return home from their wedding trip of Mr and Mrs Wm Gainer.

Some of the advertisers, the names of whom will be familiar to Welland’s older generation, are:

• White Bros, liverymen
• Jas Jackson Co., dry goods
• F. M. Hagar, coal.
• Thomas Brown, degtist
• D.D’Everardo, registrar
• Thomas Cumines, druggist
• Geo Cronmiller, furniture
• H.W. Hobson, drugs
• Merchant’s gargling oil, for man or beast, is advertised in a prominent space on the back page.